Conservation - Tips

When it comes to energy savings,
conservation is most important.
There are many ways that you can
conserve energy, that are fast
and easy to implement. Here are
some conservation tips for all
seasons and all types of
weather.

Conservation Tips for
Cold Weather
Sunshine! Windows on the south
side of the house get the most
sunlight. Eastern windows get
sunlight in the morning. West
facing windows receive sunlight
in the afternoon. Open shades
and drapes during the daytime to
let the sun’s warmth enter your
home, and close when the sun
goes down.

Close your kitchen vent,
fireplace damper and closet
doors when not in use.
Remove air conditioning window
units, or cover them well.
Keep radiators free of dust for
top efficiency.

According to the U.S. Department
of Energy, homeowners can save
as much as 10% a year on their
heating and cooling bills by
simply turning the thermostat
back by 10 to 15 degrees.
Wrap your pipes, to guard
against heat loss and prevent
them from freezing.

Avoid using space heaters.
They're expensive to operate,
and can be dangerous, too.
Check your threshold for any
gaps between it and the door.
Use a bottom seal that can be
attached to the bottom of the
door -- it should brush up
against the floor to seal up the
threshold. It virtually stops
drafts.

Get a heating system tune-up —
it’ll ensure you get maximum
performance from every drop of
heating oil burned.

Make sure you have good
insulation on exterior walls,
ceilings with cold spaces above,
and floors with cold spaces
below.

Change the windows. Consider new
low-emissivity glass, which will
decrease radiant heat loss
without lowering visibility.

Upgrade your oil burner — a
modern burner can cut costs by
15%.

Conservation Tips for Warm
Weather
Keep drapes, blinds and shades
closed during the day to block
out the sun.
Move furniture away from air
conditioning vents.
Plant shade trees due west of
west windows. It could reduce
your air conditioning bills by
up to 25%!

Cook on the grill to keep
cooking heat outside the home.
When cooking inside, use a
microwave instead of a
conventional oven. It uses less
than half the power and cooks
food in about one-fourth the
time.